Galaxidi: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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In the 19th century Galaxidi was a town of shipowners and sea captains whose sailing ships traded across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Steam killed the business, and the stone mansions stayed behind, which is why the town looks the way it does. This walk goes around the two harbours, then a short drive takes you to the hill monastery and down the coast. Two hours on foot, flat except for the church steps.

A short history of Galaxidi

Galaxidi, on the northern shore of the Gulf of Corinth, stands on the site of an ancient city called Oiantheia. For centuries its residents made their living from the sea, and at the start of the Greek War of Independence, in 1821, its sailors took part in the revolt, and the Ottomans burned the town and its fleet. It was rebuilt, and in the 19th century it became one of the centres of Greek sail shipping, with shipyards and wealthy shipowners, who built the large stone houses that still stand there. When ships switched to steam, the shipowners could not compete and the town declined. Today it is a small holiday village, and every year on Clean Monday it holds a colourful flour war.

The ten best sights in Galaxidi

1
Nautical and Historical Museum
Ship portraits and captains' instruments; the key to understanding the town
2
Church of Agios Nikolaos
The captains' church above the harbour; open most mornings
3
Folklore Museum
Costumes and household things from the seafaring families; a short visit
4
Monastery of the Transfiguration (Sotiros)
On the hill 2 km west, with a view over the bay; dress modestly
5
Delphi Archaeological Museum
See it before the site, or after if the heat is building; 25 minutes' drive
6
Temple of Apollo, Delphi
Go at opening time: the slope faces the sun and there is little shade
7
Tholos of Athena Pronaia
The round temple below the road; a separate, free part of the site
8
Hosios Loukas Monastery
Byzantine gold mosaics, 45 minutes east; worth the detour
9
Castle of Amfissa
Medieval walls on the rock above Amfissa, 17 km north
10
Agora Harbour
The main harbour and its waterfront tavernas; park once and walk

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Galaxidi →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Galaxidi:

Free walking tours in Galaxidi

The captains' town

Agora Harbour · Galaxidi stands on the site of ancient Oiantheia, and the waterfront you are walking on is still named after it: Akti Oianthis. The town has looked out on the same narrow inlet for over two and a half thousand years.
Nautical and Historical Museum · Galaxidi's ships joined the War of Independence in 1821, and in reprisal an Ottoman fleet attacked the town that autumn, burning it and carrying off its ships. The town rebuilt its fleet, and the museum's ship portraits come from that second golden age.
Church of Agios Nikolaos · On Clean Monday, the first day of Orthodox Lent, Galaxidi holds its flour war, the Alevromoutzouromata: people pelt each other with coloured flour until the old town and everyone in it are covered. Visitors who come that day should wear clothes they can throw away.
Chirolakas Harbour · The street along this harbour is called Neoriou, 'of the shipyard', because this shore is where Galaxidi built its own wooden ships. At the height of the trade, hulls stood on the slipways here while the finished ships lay at anchor in the bay.
Monastery of the Transfiguration (Sotiros) · In 1703 a monk here, Euthymios, found old manuscripts and wrote the Chronicle of Galaxidi, a history of the town and the region from the Middle Ages. It is one of the few local Greek chronicles of the period, and historians still argue over how far to trust it.
Kirra · Ancient Kirrha, here at the head of the bay, was the port where pilgrims landed for Delphi. When the town charged them tolls, the Greeks fought the First Sacred War, around 595 BC, destroyed it and declared the plain behind sacred land that no one could farm.

Delphi, centre of the world

The Greeks believed Zeus released two eagles from the ends of the earth and that they met here, on the slope under the cliffs of Parnassos. Kings and cities sent questions to the oracle for a thousand years, and built treasuries to show off while they waited. Start at the spring and the round temple, climb through the sanctuary, and finish in the museum's shade. Allow four hours and come at opening time.

Delphi bus stop (KTEL) · Modern Delphi is a new village: the old village of Kastri stood right on top of the sanctuary, and in the 1890s it was moved here so that French archaeologists could dig. The 'Great Excavation' that followed uncovered the site you see.
Castalian Spring · The water comes out of a cleft between the two great cliffs, the Phaedriades, and pilgrims washed here before consulting the oracle. Poets later made it a spring of inspiration, which is why Castalia turns up in European verse.
Tholos of Athena Pronaia · The round building was put up around 380 BC, and the Roman writer Vitruvius records that its architect, Theodoros of Phocaea, wrote a book about it. Nobody knows what it was for; the three re-erected columns are the most photographed ruin at Delphi.
Temple of Apollo, Delphi · Here the Pythia, the priestess, gave Apollo's answers. Ancient writers say the forecourt carried maxims of the Seven Sages, among them 'Know thyself' and 'Nothing in excess'.
Theatre of Delphi · In 1927 the poet Angelos Sikelianos and his American wife Eva Palmer staged Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound in this theatre, the first of their Delphic Festivals. It was one of the first modern revivals of ancient drama in an ancient theatre.
Delphi Archaeological Museum · The bronze Charioteer was found in 1896, buried by an earthquake that had saved it from being melted down. He was part of a chariot group dedicated after a race victory in the 470s BC, and his glass-and-stone eyes are original.

Around Parnassos

Behind Delphi the mountain rises to a high plateau of caves and shepherds' huts, and over its eastern shoulder sits one of the great Byzantine monasteries. To the north, Amfissa guards the pass to Thessaly with a medieval castle. This is a full-day drive in a loop, mostly on good mountain roads. Take a jacket: Parnassos is cold even when the coast is hot.

Museum of the Delphic Festivals · The house of Angelos and Eva Sikelianos keeps the costumes Eva wove by hand on her own loom for the 1927 and 1930 festivals. She had studied ancient vase paintings to work out how the clothes should hang.
Corycian Cave · The cave was sacred to Pan and the nymphs. French excavators found tens of thousands of knucklebones in it, the small sheep and goat bones that worshippers threw like dice to ask the gods a question.
Arachova · Arachova makes formaela, a hard sheep's cheese with protected origin status that is grilled or fried until it softens. The village is also known for its handwoven woollen rugs and blankets, still sold on the main street.
Hosios Loukas Monastery · It grew around the tomb of a hermit, Luke of Steiris, who died in 953 and was famed for prophecy. Its 11th-century church mosaics are on the UNESCO list together with those of Daphni and Nea Moni on Chios.
Castle of Amfissa · In the Middle Ages the town was called Salona, and after the Fourth Crusade a Frankish lord built this castle on the ancient acropolis. Catalans and then Ottomans held it after him, each adding to the walls.
Amfissa Archaeological Museum · In 339 BC Amfissa was accused of farming the sacred plain below Delphi, and the war declared against it gave Philip II of Macedon his reason to march into southern Greece. A year later he defeated Athens and Thebes at Chaeronea.

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Getting to Galaxidi and getting around

Itea bus stop (KTEL) · Galaxidi has only a few buses a day; most connections run through Itea, 7 km away
Delphi bus stop (KTEL) · Buses to Athens and Arachova stop on the main street of modern Delphi

Cheap eats in Galaxidi

Galaxidi is a seafront town, and quick food here means a bakery pie in the morning, a souvlaki at lunch and a coffee on the harbour wall. The tavernas along the water are for sitting, not rushing, so for a fast meal head one street back. The region's olives are the big Amfissa variety, cured black and sold everywhere. Prices are higher at Delphi, so pack lunch here.

Papalexis Bakery · Tiropita and bread about €1.5-3
Artolichoudies · Pies and sweet buns, about €2-3
Edesma · Souvlaki in pita on the waterfront, about €3-4
To Kafeneio · Greek coffee and a sweet, about €2-4
Melydron · Coffee and snacks on the harbour, about €3-6

Museums in Galaxidi

Nautical and Historical Museum · Ship portraits, figureheads and navigation tools
Folklore Museum · Daily life of the captains' families
Delphi Archaeological Museum · The Charioteer and the Sphinx of the Naxians
Museum of the Delphic Festivals · The Sikelianos house and the 1927 festival
Amfissa Archaeological Museum · Small regional museum below the castle

Nature and day trips near Galaxidi

Corycian Cave · High on Parnassos; the drive itself is the view
Castalian Spring · Cool water under the Delphi cliffs
Asteri Beach · Pebbles and pines, quiet on weekdays
Agioi Pantes Beach · Coves 8 km west, with a taverna

Things to do in Galaxidi with kids

Agora Harbour · Fishing boats, cats and ice cream along the quay
Asteri Beach · Shallow, calm water for small children
Nautical and Historical Museum · Model ships and figureheads hold children's attention
Arachova · In winter, the base for sledging and skiing on Parnassos

Where to eat in Galaxidi

Ab oVo · Modern Greek cooking on the harbour
Zuygos · Fish and meze facing the boats
Albatross · Family taverna one street up from the water
To Perasma · Simple grills and salads in the old town
Bebelis · Home-style dishes, popular with locals
Riva Galaxidi · By the quieter Chirolakas harbour

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Frequently asked questions about Galaxidi

What is there to see in Galaxidi?

The top sights in Galaxidi are Nautical and Historical Museum, Church of Agios Nikolaos and Folklore Museum. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Galaxidi?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Galaxidi without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Galaxidi?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Galaxidi, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: The captains' town.

How do you get to Galaxidi and get around?

The main ways are Itea bus stop (KTEL) and Delphi bus stop (KTEL). Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Galaxidi, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Galaxidi that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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